Abstract
Postpartum dysgalactia syndrome (PPDS) is a major economic problem in modern sow farms. General treatment of PPDS consists of the use of oxytocin to promote milk ejection and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to alleviate inflammatory processes. So far, studies investigated the use of a single administration of NSAIDs after parturition in healthy and non-healthy sows. The current study investigated whether administration of meloxicam or paracetamol in sows prior to parturition improves sow and piglet health as well as performance in a farm with PPDS problems in sows. Sixty sows and 978 piglets from a Belgian farrow-to-finish farm were enrolled. Sows were randomly divided into three groups: a non-treated control group, a meloxicam-treated group and a paracetamol-treated group. Treatment was administered orally for 7 days from gestation day 113 onwards. Performance and health parameters investigated in sows were gestation length, farrowing duration, litter characteristics, colostrum yield and quality (Immunoglobulin G), litter weight gain, weaning-to-estrus interval, pregnancy rate, rectal temperature, acute phase proteins and inflammatory markers serum amyloid A, haptoglobin, interferon γ, interleukin 1β and 6 backfat, constipation and feed refusal. Performance and health parameters in piglets were birthweight, average daily weight gain, colostrum intake and mortality. Paracetamol-treated sows showed a significantly (P = 0.04) lower rectal temperature (mean ± SD: 38.09 ± 0.18°C) than the meloxicam-treated sows (38.24 ± 0.18°C), but not than the control group (38.22 ± 0.18°C). Sows of the paracetamol-treated group had a significantly (P = 0.001) longer gestation length (116.3 ± 0.9 days) than sows of the control group (115.3 ± 0.6 days), but not than meloxicam-treated sows (115.9 ± 0.9 days). No significant differences between the three groups were found for all the other parameters. In conclusion, the prophylactic oral administration of either meloxicam or paracetamol for 7 days starting 2 days prior to farrowing did not show beneficial effects on both health and performance parameters of sows and piglets.
Highlights
The peripartum period is critical in the reproductive cycle of sows
We investigated the prophylactic use of meloxicam and paracetamol in sows in a farm with a postpartum dysgalactia syndrome (PPDS) history
Sows were treated for 7 days from gestation day 113 onwards. a−bValues in the same row not sharing the same superscript are significantly different at P < 0.05 in either the Kruskal-Wallis test (K-W) or the test the means for equality (ANOVA)
Summary
The peripartum period is critical in the reproductive cycle of sows. One of the major problems in modern farms is the postpartum dysgalactia syndrome (PPDS). Sows have reduced colostrum and milk production but often show little or no obvious inflammation with a variable clinical picture [1]. Piglets mainly show growth retardation due to insufficient colostrum and milk intake [2]. The economic impact of PPDS can be substantial [3], including increased piglet mortality, diarrhea, higher treatment costs and a lower weaning weight. It leads to increased replacement rates of the sow population and more labor for care and treatment
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